Future of belonging: A correlational study on how recreation therapy impacts a sense of community and loneliness in group interventions for Parkinson's

The lack of a sense of community can lead to increased feelings of loneliness in the studies of neighborhoods, religious groups, and general groups of older adults but there is little research on this phenomenon in recreation therapy intervention settings. The goal of this study was to understand the relationship between feelings of loneliness and a sense of community in older adults with Parkinson’s disease involved in weekly recreation therapy interventions. A correlation analysis was applied to the Sense of Community Index II scores and the Campaign to End Loneliness Measurement Tool scores using a qualitative, single-sample approach for the population of the Parkinson’s Exercise research group. The analysis confirms the presence of a strong negative correlation between a sense of community and feelings of loneliness within the Parkinson’s Exercise research group. Clinical significance of these findings suggests that by creating an environment for a sense of community within the group, loneliness is subsequently diminished which increases the likeliness to achieve individual and group treatment goals by satisfying social needs. More research studying the phenomenon in additional recreation therapy settings is needed.